"You won't like this but I have something to confide/ We strive for something more than a faded sticker on a skateboard." -"Anti-Manifesto" by Propagandhi
Canadian punk band Propagandhi was formed in 1986 by Chris Hannah and Jord Samolesky, but it was not until their first major CD in 1993 entitled "How To Clean Everything" that they truly jumped into the punk scene. Right from the beginning, the band showed they were not afraid to make a statement and tell the world what they think, with song titles including "Middle Finger Response," "This Might Be Satire" and "Hallie Sallasse, Up Your Ass." Since then, they have not slowed down.
One question put to Samolesky was if the band ever wished they had done anything differently since they haven't necessarily been extremely successful. In typical Propagandhi fashion, Samolesky gave a profound answer.
"I think that we have all been so sickened by the diversion of underground and heavy music into this kind of candy bar mentality," he said. "I don't think we regret any non-participation. We are perfectly fine with the direction that we have taken over the years."
For a punk band to list Noam Chomsky, Amy Goodwin and Democracy Now as its major influences, it is apparent that Propagandhi has more to their entity than great music, which they have plenty of. What they truly are is the message.
"In a nutshell, we respect the self-determination of all nations of people around the world," Samolesky said, "and we are respectful of the natural environment. We are born into this planet to be a part of it." This is their message: "We have to be respectful of the things and we have to heal the damages of the things that we have done to this world."
The music of Propagandhi is not for everyone. Known to preach about anarchy, vegetarianism and atheism, many do not agree with all that is conveyed in the songs. However, their lyrics preach against imperialism, human rights violations, capitalism, the military industrial complex and the domination of the lower class by the upper class.
"I don't expect people to pick up an album of ours and get things right away," Salomesky said. "It took me a couple of years to make this ideological shift."
After this last paragraph, the members of Propagandhi may come off as some sort of Canadian terrorist group, but this could not be further from the truth. All of the members of the band are very active in their community in many different non-profit groups.
"Coming out of the understanding of these problems necessitates a certain obligation of acting and trying to engender a sense of change," Salomesky said. "If we can make some kind of small contribution to the continued existence of music that might inspire some ideas outside of consumer culture, then that makes me happy - and I wouldn't be doing this otherwise."
If you are ready to expose yourself to something new, check out Propagandhi's CDs, read the lyrics as you listen to them, google what you do not understand and see what they have to say. If you like them, see them at SOMA on May 29 or at The Glass House in Pomona on May 30.
